RIGA, Dec 15 (LETA) - The local government of Kuldiga municipality plans to introduce a municipal tourist tax of EUR 1.5 per person for each night spent at a Kuldiga hotel or guest house, according to a decision adopted by the municipal council.

Kuldiga municipality council has considered the proposal of the finance committee, the tourism subcommittee of the business support committee and the business and development committee to approve a municipal fee for the accommodation of holidaymakers and tourists in Kuldiga.

According to the local authority, the municipal tourist tax is widely applied in Europe. It has been introduced in many popular tourist cities such as Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome, Venice, Vienna, Brussels, Lisbon, and others. The level of the charge varies widely from country to country and from city to city, and there are several models of calculation, such as a flat rate on top of the price of the service, differentiated charges depending on the category of tourist accommodation or the season, or per night.

For example, in neighboring Lithuania, a tourist tax was introduced in Kaunas in 2016 and in Vilnius in 2018. In Riga, the tourist tax was introduced in 2019.

The tourist tax rate in Riga is EUR 0.89 for each night spent by a holidaymaker or tourist at a tourist accommodation establishment, but no more than EUR 8.9 for total stay.

The tourism subcommittee of the business support committee of the Kuldiga municipal council proposes to set the tourist tax at EUR 1.5 spent by each holidaymaker or tourist at a tourist accommodation establishment. For the time being, the tax could only be introduced in the town of Kuldiga from April 1, 2026.

Kuldiga municipality council has approved in principle the introduction of a municipal tourist tax of EUR 1.5 for night spent at a tourist accommodation in Kuldiga.

Before the municipality adopts a binding regulation on the tax, a public consultation will be held and residents will have the opportunity to express their opinions, the municipality informed LETA.